Post-Myocardial Infarction Syndrome—also known as Dressler Syndrome, Post-pericardiotomy Syndromeand Post-Cardiac Injury Syndrome—is a condition in which patients experience heart attack-like symptoms after a heart injury (i.e., a heart attack, open heart surgery, or blunt injury from a fall or motor vehicle accident).

The pain, fever and discomfort experienced is caused by the inflammation of the pericardium (the protective sac surrounding the heart). The body—postinjury, surgery or heart attack—treats this PCI as an enemy sending an army of antibodies to fix the damaged tissue, causing inflammation.

Can I Just Wait it Out?

If left unchecked, this inflammation can lead to more serious symptoms including fluid retention.

The first type of fluid retention is within the pericardium, known as pericardial effusion. The fluid buildup puts pressure on the heart forcing it to work much harder, struggling to accomplish its routine pumping duties. When this stress is placed on the heart, the condition is known as cardiac tamponade.

The second type of fluid retention is within the membrane surrounding the lungs, known as a pleural effusion. Rather than restrict the heart like a pericardial effusion, a plural effusion restricts the lungs, making it very difficult or impossible to breathe.

A more permanent or chronic complication of post-myocardial infarction syndrome—if left unchecked—is constrictive pericarditis. In this complication, the pericardium itself becomes scarred and thick, significantly impairing the heart's ability to pump needed blood around the body.

Stem Cell Treatment for Post-Myocardial Infarction Syndrome

The goal of investigative regenerative medicine is to use stem cells to assist in the healing of heart muscles in those with the condition. Stem cells are incredibly valuable as they may be developed to serve a wide variety of functions throughout the human body. Adult stem cells, while easier to obtain, are limited in the functions they can perform. Fetal stem cells may perform a virtually unlimited number of cellular functions but are shrouded in controversy.